United Way of 1000 Lakes logo

United Way of 1000 Lakes

Public charity · Grantmaker Grand Rapids, MN EIN: 41-6042589 Website

United Way of 1000 Lakes is a public charity based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It funds community programs and works with local organizations to address immediate needs and support longer-term opportunities for children, individuals, and families in the Itasca area.

United Way of 1000 Lakes at a glance

In short: United Way of 1000 Lakes gave $121K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$120,500
+60.7% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
11
+83.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$10,955
-12.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$326,871
-25.1% vs 2024
Primary geography
Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to United Way of 1000 Lakes

Invitation Only

The website lists an initial proposal and, by invitation, a full proposal for Community Impact Grants. The listed application dates have passed and are not current deadlines.

Review Cycle
For the cycle funding 2027, the listed initial proposal deadline was August 21, 2026, and the full proposal deadline for invited applicants was September 18, 2026. Both dates have passed.
Deadline
For the cycle funding 2027, the listed initial proposal deadline was August 21, 2026, and the full proposal deadline…
Contact

Mailing address: 350 Nw 1St Ave Ste A, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 999-7570
Website: https://uwlakes.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who United Way of 1000 Lakes funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Smart North: $20KSmart North$20KItasca County Family YMCA: $15KItasca County Family YMCA$15KItasca County Habitat for Humanity: $15KItasca County Habitat forHumanity$15KItasca Youth for Christ: $10KItasca Youth for Christ$10KBoys & Girls Clubs of Northland: $10KBoys & Girls Clubs ofNorthland$10KAdvocates for Family Peace: $10KAdvocates for Family Peace$10KGrace House: $10KGrace House$10KSupport Within Reach: $10KSupport Within Reach$10KProject Care Free Clinic: $8KProject Care Free Clinic$8KProject Read: $8KProject Read$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was Smart North ($20K). Together the top 10 received $115K.

Grant Size Distribution

41 grants across all recorded years

41<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization describes its Community Impact work as serving the Itasca area and greater Itasca County. Its website says partner agencies serve communities across Itasca County, as well as parts of Aitkin and Cass counties and the Leech Lake Reservation. The 2025 filing’s itemized grants went entirely to Minnesota recipients.

The Itasca Area Community Response Fund, administered with the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation, lists Itasca County and five surrounding communities: Bena, Blackduck, Hill City, Northome, and Remer.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Grand RapidsCass LakeBemidjiDuluthHibbingMinneapolisSaint Paul

How United Way of 1000 Lakes gives

  • 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 1239% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K14 grants2019 13 grants2020 11 grants2021 1 grant2022 12 grants2023 6 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2022) to $163K (2019). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $121K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Smart North Minneapolis, MNCharitable Purposes$20,000
Itasca County Family YMCA Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$15,000
Itasca County Habitat for Humanity Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$15,000
Itasca Youth for Christ Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northland Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$10,000
Advocates for Family Peace Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$10,000
Grace House Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$10,000
Support Within Reach Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$10,000
Project Care Free Clinic Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$7,500
Project Read Grand Rapids, MNCharitable Purposes$7,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$326,871$328,804$428,798$120,50011$6,565
2024$436,426$372,036$349,203$75,0006$1,129
2023$475,694$326,308$391,463$143,00012$3,401
2022$380,132$380,136$179,501$9,0001$264
2021$340,653$378,113$296,294$134,30011$1,985
2020$297,199$339,390$320,963$153,50013$1,993
2019$278,937$365,748$316,015$162,76614$3,718

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated vision is an equitable Itasca area where all people have the opportunities and resources needed to thrive. Its Community Impact Fund focuses on Ready Kids, Resilient Families; Healthy Minds & Bodies; and Family Financial Stability. The organization also describes Safety Net work addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, health, safety, and disaster response.

Its website says the Community Impact Fund uses a two-generation approach and supports nonprofits serving vulnerable, marginalized, and ALICE households. The organization’s 2023 filing describes work that includes funding community organizations, building partnerships and organizational capacity, supporting volunteerism, and convening coalitions.

In 2025, recipients included organizations whose own missions describe work in digital equity and technology skills (Smart North); affordable housing (Itasca County Habitat for Humanity); youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility (Itasca County Family YMCA); temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness (Grace House of Itasca County); ending domestic violence (Advocates for Family Peace); mentoring youth through a faith-centered approach (Itasca Youth for Christ); and crisis intervention and information and referral services (First Call for Help of Itasca County).

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, United Way of 1000 Lakes reported 11 grants totaling $120,500. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.

The largest reported grants were $20,000 to Smart North; $15,000 each to Itasca County Family YMCA and Itasca County Habitat for Humanity; $10,000 each to Itasca Youth for Christ, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northland, Advocates for Family Peace, Grace House, and Support Within Reach; $7,500 each to Project Care Free Clinic and Project Read; and $5,500 to First Call.

For the Community Impact Grants cycle funding 2027, the nonprofit resources page listed eligibility for registered 501(c)(3) organizations operating in the Itasca area. It described an initial proposal followed by a full proposal by invitation only. The page listed the funding period as January 1–December 31, 2027. The organization’s website says grant proposals are reviewed against impact priorities and eligibility, equity, potential for measurable results, and fiscal and management practices; local volunteers participate in the review. Its filing says funded programs must track and report statistics and progress toward outcomes annually, and that site visits may be scheduled.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Hannah Madden, President; Ashlee Lenoie, Vice Preside; Danielle Witherill, Secretary; Angie Tanner, Treasurer; Leanna McBride, Past Preside; and directors Tanis Henderson, Dave Kooda, Patrick Lovejoy, Jeff Niemala, and Joe Dasovich.

United Way of 1000 Lakes is led by Hannah Madden, President on every filing since 2024; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Hannah Madden

    President

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeff Niemala

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dave Kooda

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick Lovejoy

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tanis Henderson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anne Campbell

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Austin Rohling

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beth Wilson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Darlene Peters

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Dasovich

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Larson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sara Rose Schafhauser

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly Brink Smith

    Executive Di

    Executive Director → Executive Di, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $46K (2020) → $66K (2025)

  • Leanna McBride

    Past President

    Vice President → President, 2023

    President → Past President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Danielle Witherill

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Angie Tanner

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ashlee Lenoie

    Vice President

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (21)
  • Former: Alie McInerney (2019–2023) — Former President
  • Former: Bill Martinetto (2019–2023) — Vice President
  • Former: Madeline Cook (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Becky Lauer (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jeff Dingman (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Rick Fannin (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Shannon Benolken (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Angela Tanner (2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Amanda Kluge (2019–2022) — Past President
  • Former: Christina Monson (2019–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Jordan Weis (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Sean Martinson (2022) — Director
  • Former: Jamie Nielsen (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: John Stemper (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Luke Francisco (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Brad Zumbaum (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Diane Meyer (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Marsha Green (2019–2020) — Former Director
  • Former: Patrick Goggin (2019–2020) — Former Treasurer
  • Former: Peter Birkey (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Brad Gallop (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Kimberly Brink Smith — Executive Di: $66KKimberly Brink SmithExecutive Di$66K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $66K, to Kimberly Brink Smith (Executive Di).

Frequently asked questions about United Way of 1000 Lakes

How much does United Way of 1000 Lakes give each year?

United Way of 1000 Lakes gave $121K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $75K across 6 grants.

What is United Way of 1000 Lakes's typical grant size?

United Way of 1000 Lakes's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,955, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does United Way of 1000 Lakes give grants?

United Way of 1000 Lakes gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MN (10 grants).

Who are United Way of 1000 Lakes's largest grantees?

United Way of 1000 Lakes's largest 2025 grantees include Smart North ($20,000), Itasca County Family YMCA ($15,000) and Itasca County Habitat for Humanity ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is United Way of 1000 Lakes?

United Way of 1000 Lakes reported $327K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $329K.

What does United Way of 1000 Lakes fund?

The organization’s stated vision is an equitable Itasca area where all people have the opportunities and resources needed to thrive. Its Community Impact Fund focuses on Ready Kids, Resilient Families; Healthy Minds & Bodies; and Family Financial Stability. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from United Way of 1000 Lakes?

The website lists an initial proposal and, by invitation, a full proposal for Community Impact Grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is United Way of 1000 Lakes's EIN?

United Way of 1000 Lakes's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6042589. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). United Way of 1000 Lakes funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-1000-lakes-morg_637671c9064a402694c8755439d38781

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416042589_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{United Way of 1000 Lakes funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-1000-lakes-morg_637671c9064a402694c8755439d38781},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from United Way of 1000 Lakes's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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